Types of Skateboard Wheels Without wheels, skating is quite difficult. After the deck and track, the Wheelie is an important component of the skateboarding setup. So, in this article, I’ll explain in detail what a skateboard wheel is made of, the difference between a hard wheel and a soft wheel, and the size suitable for a setup. It also provides an overview of the most important technologies related to skateboard wheeling.

WHAT ARE SKATEBOARD WHEELS MADE OF?

In the past, skateboard wheels were made of metal. The wheel was actually for roller skates, but the skater was still attached to the board. The practice ended happily in the 1970s when Frank Naswarjee invented the first urethane wheel.

Types of Skateboard Wheels Since then, skateboard wheels have been made of plastic polyurethane. However, it is often simply called urethane. This versatile material can be manufactured with various hardness, so it has dominated the skateboard and wheel market.

But not all urethanes are the same, and not all wheels are the same. Each skateboard wheel brand constantly tries new material blends to make the wheels more durable, faster, smoother, slippery, and especially strong on flat spots. But we will discuss them later. Click here

Types of skate wheels

Wheal for Street/ Park 

As you can imagine, these wheels are made for riding on the thoroughfares and in grind premises. The periphery ranges from 50 mm to 60 mm.  The manufacturer uses the Durometer A scale to measure the wheels’ hardness.

 The road and demesne wheel are the hardest, and the durometer is between 95 and 101. The wheels above 100a don’t go to the slippery road face, but they have a considerable speed on the concrete. The style of these buses is round or conical.

Cruiser

Types of Skateboard Wheels These wheels are heavier than street wheels and slide well on rough surfaces. The Cruiser Wheel is easy to maintain speed, but it is suitable for gripping pavements and ground due to its large surface area.

 The diameter of the cruiser wheel is 54mm to 60mm, and the hardness is 78a to 90a, which is suitable for cruising, as the name suggests. A cruiser wheel with a rounded outer lip is common, and a wide contact patch has the highest grip.

Longboard

The wheels on longboard skates are the largest and the most grip-bearing. The most common diameter is 70mm, but it is wide from 64mm to 80mm. It is the softest of the wheels and has a hardness of 75-90. It has a high grip and is suitable for general movement, downhill slopes, curved roads, etc. A square lip is most suitable.

What is a flat spot?

A flat spot is a flat part of the wheel. With over 50 years of history and knowledge, skateboard wheel makers are constantly working to develop flat spot-resistant formulations and deliver better quality wheelies.

Flat spots do not imply a failure of wheels but are natural wear and tear due to the general use of skateboards. It is caused by hooking on something (stone, glass, etc.) that causes the skateboard to move without the wheel rotating or by power sliding.

What size skateboard will suit you?

In short, skateboard wheels are a part of moving a skateboard, and they affect how fast it can run. In general, polyurethane skateboard wheels have a level of size, color, and durability that you can choose to suit your skateboard style and preferences.

The wheel of the skateboard is measured in both diameter and durometer. The diameter is the size of the wheel, and the durometer is the wheel’s hardness. Types of Skateboard Wheels Both depend on personal preferences and what you want to do on a skateboard. Custom builds allow you to choose the right wheel for your deck, track, and hardware. Click here

Skate Styles

Types of Skateboard Wheels

Freestyle skating

 If you prefer to perform technical tricks on a flat surface, a wheel around 98a is a good choice. The best wheels for freestyle are generally between 54mm and 55mm.

Street skate

 If the road is the preferred riding surface, the Durometer 99a or higher wheel is the best choice. Street skaters use the hardest wheels to minimize friction and keep speed on a smooth road surface.

VART Skating

 Also known as vertical skateboarding, this style moves from a horizontal to a vertical road surface. Speed, tricks, and air are the keys to VART scaling, with wheels from 95a to 100 hardness. A wheel with a hardness of 95a to 100 is the best choice, and it has less friction, so it can accelerate quickly and earn air time. It is also ideal to choose a wheel with a diameter of 56 mm or more.

Wheel Cut or Shape

 Standard Wheel (Classic Wheel)

The Standard Wheel (Classic Wheel) has a narrow contact area and a slightly rounded edge. It is the most common and popular skateboard wheel.

Cruiser Wheel

The Cruiser Wheel is shaped like a Standard Wheel, except the Durometer is low. Due to the soft wheels, the ride is very smooth.

Full wheels

Full Wheels have a large contact area and an oblique edge. It is suitable for transition scaling because it is stable, maintains speed, and can easily be locked to the lamp or bowl grind.

Rounded skateboard wheel

The rounded wheels also have a wide ground area, but the edges are blatantly rounded, designed to allow smooth riding regardless of the durometer.

Rounded Slim Wheels

Types of Skateboard Wheels The rounded slim wheel has an overtly rounded edge similar to the regular radial wheel but has a narrow contact area, which increases speed control and slide responsiveness.

The wheel size, durometer, and shape of the skateboard are designed with various types of skates in mind, but in fact, due to personal preferences. It’s a good idea to start with the recommended wheels in this guide and change them into something that fits well.

How to Choose Wheels on a Skateboard?

When buying a wheel, you must ensure that the size and hardness match your setup and skate style. Let’s take a look at the differences between the size of the wheels, the rigidity level, and the contact patch.

Skateboard wheels: The right height

Skateboard wheels come in a variety of sizes. The size notation indicates the diameter of the wheel in millimeters (mm). In general, the diameter of the wheel on a skateboard is from 50 mm to 59 mm. Larger ones are not suitable for skateboarding, but for cruisers and longboards.

 Small wheels are fast to accelerate, lightweight, and compact. However, the top speed is low compared to the big wheels. Also, when the wheel is large, it is safe to run on rough ground, as it will not scratch the small stones that cross it. Types of Skateboard Wheels The larger the wheel, the more durable it is to reach faster.

Let’s sort out the story: Street skateboards have small 50-53mm wheels, small lamps, and mini lamps have medium 53-56mm wheels, and Vart skateboards have large wheels up to 59mm.

For beginners or those still undecided, we recommend an all-around wheel with a diameter of 53-56 mm. This size range is currently the most popular for skaters.

Skateboard wheels: proper hardness

Another thing to remember when purchasing skateboard wheels is the level of rigidity.

How is the hardness of the skateboard wheel expressed?

The hardness of the skateboard wheel is shown in the durometer in units of “A.” This A scale is worth 100 points, and skateboard wheels rank between 75A and 100A. The higher the number, the harder the wheel.

Brands such as Bones Wheels use additional scales better to represent wheels with a durometer from 101A to 104A, as A scales can only accurately represent hardness up to 100A, and higher numbers will be inaccurate.

Types of Skateboard Wheels In this “B scale,” about 20 additional units are represented. In a nutshell, Bones’ 83B wheel is equivalent to 103A, and the 84B wheel is equivalent to 104A. These wheels are significantly harder than A-scale wheels.

What hardness is required?

Soft Wheels have more grip than hard wheels, are quieter, and absorb ground irregularities. Therefore, it is less slippery and a little slower than hard wheels. See below to find out which hardness is best suited for you.

Soft Wheels: 78A-92A

Soft wheels absorb surface irregularities and minimize noise, making them suitable for extremely rough surfaces, cruisers, and shooting boards. This wheel has a high grip and is slower than hard wheels. The power slide is difficult with soft wheels.

Medium Hard Wheels|93a-95a

Skateboard wheels with a hardness of 93A to 95A are slightly harder and faster than soft wheels but have a good grip. If you want to skate on the streets even if the ground of the street spot is very rough, or simply want to relax and cruise the city, this range of wheels is suitable.

Hard Skateboard Wheels| 95A- 99A 

The Durometer 95A- 99A skateboard wheels are ideal for all newcomers. Whether it’s on the road, at a grind demesne, or at a mini-ramp, this wheel is fine. You can slide when you want, grip power is sufficient, and speed is relatively high. 

Veritably hard skateboard wheels  

The Super Hard Skateboard Wheel (83B- 84B Bones Wheel) at 99A- 101A and over is the perfect wheel for educated skaters. Because it’s veritably hard, it slips, accelerates, and top speed is veritably presto. Thus, it’s an ideal wheel for specialized skateboarding. Still, on rough or slippery shells, veritably hard wheels can be infelicitous for skating.

Skateboard Wheel: Correct Contact Patch

Contact patches are The next most important in terms of diameter and hardness.

This area refers to the portion of the wheel in contact with the ground.

Types of Skateboard Wheels The fundamental difference between Slim Wheels and Basic Wheels is that Basic Wheels’ contact patches are 18-20 mm, while Slim Wheels’ are 15-17 mm. This minimizes friction during skating and sliding, making the narrow wheels particularly suitable for technical skating.

Skate wheel maintenance and care

Cleaning your wheels

Skate wheels pass many things: gravel, dust, oil, dirt. Cleaning the wheels is important to keep them fresh and spinning at their best.

Soak the wheels in soapy water and rub them with a wire brush to remove dirt. When the wheel is completely dry, return it to the board and rotate it. The wet wheels are easy to get dirty, and rough riding is promised. In addition, we also want to avoid rusting bearings and flooding the skate deck.

Lubricating your bearings

The board bearings are fitted inside the wheel, reducing friction and helping the wheel to rotate smoothly. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically clean and oil the bearing to keep the wheel rotation good.

Acetone or alcohol is great for removing stains. From there, use silicone-based lubricants to grease them. This will ensure that when you return to the shredder, the wheel will rotate the most and perform at its best.

Check for wear

No matter what terrain you run on, the wheels are severely worn out. This means you need to check the wheel quickly every time the skate session ends. The wheel might be loosening a little or picking up some gum. By tightening the screw early and wiping the gum, the board can be kept in the best condition.

Rotate the wheel once every few months. Just like a car, rotating the wheel equalizes wear and extends life. When rotating, it is best to move each wheel to the opposite side on the diagonal. If you notice an irregular shape or flat spots on the wheel, it’s time to retire and go to the store to buy a new one.

Conclusion

Skateboarding wheelie selection is essential for the stylish skating experience. The request has a variety of sizes, accessories, colors, and other features. 

 I want to choose a wheel that suits my taste and needs.  Keep in mind that you choose the wheel that suits your taste. The pros and cons of Weil will help you decide whether it’s the stylish option for you.   We hope this article will help you choose your wheels. And have a delightful skating!